Agenda - 10-18-2022; 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 legal theory in which citizens holding signs, or simply talking, become criminals for the act of 2 `hurting kids' feelings.' For the simple act of speaking or holding a sign, she wants criminal 3 prosecution. You are trying to limit the `where and when' of protests, but protests often happen 4 spontaneously, and in locations where the right audience is present. In this case, places where 5 parents are frequently present, namely, near their neighborhood schools. Keeping parents from 6 gathering together is EXACTLY the motivation of the OCS Board. The OCS Board's pursuit of 7 this ordinance is not their claimed `safety of students,' it is to silence parents. Who among you 8 can say that speech from picketers is harmful? History shows that social change in America can 9 be HELPED by protests. Kids exposed to tough language can be strengthened by this 10 exposure, not necessarily harmed. Kids can become emotionally stronger and better adjusted to 11 life's varied experiences. And finally, consider this: Kids willingly expose themselves to the 12 harsh world of TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, so they can surely deal with words and signs 13 from protesters. I urge you to reject the argument that tough language should be made criminal 14 —don't penalize every citizen of Orange County for unprovable and non-violent 'emotional harm.' 15 Please stop pursuing this misguided proposal." 16 17 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 18 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) 19 20 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 21 Commissioner Richards said she was able to attend the Advisory Board on Aging 22 meeting this week. She said she is looking forward to hearing about the Master Aging Plan 23 tonight. She shared that she attended the Attorney General's presentation at Whitted on 24 Monday about the Opioid Settlement and how it is going to impact Orange County. She thanked 25 Commissioner Greene for her work on the settlement. She said that, unfortunately, the Suicide 26 Prevention Walk is the same night as their joint meeting with the school boards on September 27 29, 2022. 28 Commissioner Bedford said the DSS board met yesterday. She said they are hopeful 29 that federal emergency provisions allowing additional benefits will continue to be in place until 30 January. She said the Partnership to End Homelessness met last week and approved projects 31 for approximately $900,000, pending HUD's awards, as well as Emergency Solutions Grant 32 funds for around $100,000. She said staff did a good job with the process and she thanked 33 volunteers who served on the Project Review Committee. She also said the Durham-Chapel Hill 34 MPO met in person at the Durham City Hall, and the new executive director was there. She said 35 there are lots of plans for projects. 36 Commissioner Hamilton said the Capital Needs Workgroup will be meeting tomorrow 37 morning to continue work after providing their report. She said she is looking forward to the 38 presentation on September 29th for the joint meeting with the school boards to continue 39 discussions on how to address aging school facilities and meet the capital needs given the 40 constraints of the county's budget. 41 Commissioner Greene said she has been out of town for several days and regretfully 42 missed the MPO meeting and the Attorney General's talk. She said she chaired the Triangle J 43 Aging Coalition meeting today and was proud to learn that Janice Tyler, Department on Aging 44 Director, is part of the planning committee for the statewide aging plan. 45 Commissioner Fowler said since their last meeting, the Library Task Force met and 46 looked at how other counties funds municipal libraries and will continue to meeting into the fall 47 to look at how to continue funding Chapel Hill Library and also inter-operability. She said they 48 plan to make a presentation to the Board of Commissioners in February, and the Town Councils 49 after that. She said the ABC Board met today and reviewed their annual audit, which was clean, 50 and they are doing well financially. She said the new ABC store in Southern Village should open 51 in October 2022, and the new Mebane store will likely open in February 2023.